Des Winter, Chair of ESCP’s Programme Committee and newly appointed editor of BJS, delivered the keynote lecture on Wednesday 25 September ‘Redefining boundaries with the PelvEx and REACCT global collaboratives’ at ESCP’s 14th Annual Conference.
As well as working within the largest colorectal unit in Ireland at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, Des actively spearheads the PelvEx and REACCT (Research in Early Age Colorectal Cancer Trends) initiatives.
Des took the stage in the Plenary Hall to update attendees, from seasoned surgeons to medical trainees, on the Pan-European and global collaborative projects.
Des kicked off the session by discussing the overall aims for the PelvEx Collaborative and its focus on advanced pelvic malignancy which requires exenteration and TME surgery.
He highlighted the importance of collating international outcome data regarding pelvic exenteration for advanced pelvic neoplasm, explaining that factors must be determined around surgical and survival outcomes, due to the complex and challenging procedure and the variable long-term survival for patients.
The PelvEx Group provides real-world data to inform patient decision and currently incorporates six continents, 585 centres and almost 4,000 cases. Des reflected on key research undertaken and factors already identified which included:
- 30-40% of patients will have a complication
- 10% require surgical intervention
- 10% require a radiological intervention
- <2% 30-day mortality
Secondly, the REACCT Collaborative and its initial research into early age colorectal cancer trends was discussed.
Des explained the group was designed to assess the incidence of early age onset colorectal cancer (below 50 years), evaluate clinicopathological features and patient outcomes and define unmet clinical and research needs.
Alarmingly, there are increasing incidences of colorectal cancer in young adults in Europe over the last 25 years. Colon and rectum cancer rates are also climbing. In order to understand the reasoning behind this trajectory, creating a global network to fuel collaboration and share ideas is key. This would then present an opportunity to grasp pathogenesis and develop focussed screening.
Des concluded with a call for further members. Delegates can follow @REACCTcollab on Twitter or contact
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